title: Relation of the Mediterranean diet with the incidence of gestational diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some studies document relationships of the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with individual components of the diet, but studies exploring relationships with patterns of eating are lacking. This observational study aimed to explore a possible relationship between the incidence of GDM and the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) pattern of eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 10 Mediterranean countries, 1076 consecutive pregnant women underwent a 75-g OGTT at the 24th-32nd week of gestation, interpreted both by the ADA_2010 and the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG)_2012 criteria. The dietary habits were assessed by a previously validated questionnaire and a Mediterranean Diet Index (MDI) was computed, reflecting the degree of adherence to the MedDiet pattern of eating: a higher MDI denoting better adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for age, BMI, diabetes in the family, weight gain and energy intake, subjects with GDM, by either criterion, had lower MDI (ADA_2010, 5.8 vs 6.3, P=0.028; IADPSG_2012, 5.9 vs 6.4, P<0.001). Moreover, the incidence of GDM was lower in subjects with better adherence to the MedDiet (higher tertile of MDI distribution), 8.0% vs 12.3%, OR=0.618, P=0.030 by ADA_2010 and 24.3% vs 32.8%, OR=0.655, P=0.004 by IADPSG_2012 criteria. In subjects without GDM, MDI was negatively correlated with both fasting plasma glucose and AUC glucose, P<0.001 for both.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence to a MedDiet pattern of eating is associated with lower incidence of GDM and better degree of glucose tolerance, even in women without GDM. The possibility to use MedDiet for the prevention of GDM deserves further testing with intervention studies.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karamanos
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thanopoulou
authors.affiliation: First Endocrine Section and Diabetes Center, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anastasiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assaad-Khalil
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Albache
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetology EHU, Oran, Algeria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bachaoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, National Institute of Nutrition, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, CHU IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Ghomari
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jotic
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lalic
authors.affiliation: University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapolla
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Sacre-Coeur University Hospital-Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saab
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nutrition, and Metabolic Diseases, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marre
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savona-Ventura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D002149:Energy Intake; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose